Postgame: New England

There’s not a whole lot to write about the Crew’s 2-0 loss to New England in part because there
weren’t many players around to say much.

After playing the Revolution to a scoreless draw through the first 90 minutes, the Crew allowed
two stoppage-time goals while dropping to sole possession of eighth place. In 10 home games this
season, the Crew is now 3-4-3 and has dropped 18 of a possible 30 points from those matches.

When the Crew locker room opened, it was essentially a ghost town. With some players on
pre-assigned autograph duty, it fell to players like rookie midfielder Wil Trapp to explain the
latest defeat.

“It’s kind of hard to swallow,” he said. “Any time you give up two late goals like that in a
game we were in the whole time, it’s disappointing. We had a bunch of chances that we need to
finish, myself included.”

Added Ben Speas: “That was a great crowd. We would like nothing else but to get them three
points. To come out of here with none, that’s not good enough.”

Injury updateForward Aaron Schoenfeld left the game in the 36th minute when he landed awkwardly after
colliding with Jose Goncalves near the Crew’s goal. Schoenfeld was sent directly into the locker
room and announced as having suffered a right shoulder dislocation.

Further information will be disclosed Monday, a team spokesperson said.

FormationsI wrote in today’s paper that the Crew might use the new formation it debuted against
Portland because head coach Robert Warzycha wanted to increase the team’s scoring. Against the
Revolution, the Crew opened with what looked like a diamond in the midfield with designated player
Federico Higuain as the attacking tip and Trapp as the defending one.

“We were creating a lot of chances but we didn’t score the goals,” Warzycha said. “Obviously we
had quality chances when we played in the previous formation, but I think we didn’t allow the other
teams to create as many chances as they used to. I don’t think they created too much until they
scored the goal.”

In the formation, Schoenfeld was on the left wing and Dominic Oduro was on the right. As the
tallest attacking player on the roster, Schoenfeld’s size and skills set him up to be a target
forward, and he has mostly been used there in his career. Asking him to play on the wing took him
out of his comfort zone, and he struggled with a number of touches as he tried to maneuver his way
into the area.

“We tried to go with Dominic right and Schoenfeld on the left and (Higuain) and two center
midfielders going forward as possible,” Warzycha said. “We generated some offense and got some
corner kicks and free kicks around the box.”

The Crew finished with 19 attempts on goal, 10 of which came in the second half. Three of the
team’s seven corner kicks were in the first half.

At the half, the Crew seemed to switch back to a 4-4-2 of sorts, although there appeared to be
no forwards for periods of play. Most notable was a cross from Oduro into the box that was met by
absolutely no one.

“Obviously we have to feel it,” Warzycha said when asked how to get more players in the box. “
The players that are wide, one has to cross it and the other two have to be in the box. That’s how
we fix it. They should be in the box. A perfect chance from Dominic Oduro when he passed it across
the goal line. If Ben would have been in front of the defender like he’s supposed to be, probably
he would score a goal. That’s what we need from the guys: read it, feel it and then be in the
places where you’re supposed to be.”

“I think even when we switched midgame to the 4-4-2 it was fine,” Trapp said. “Everyone is
pretty comfortable in both systems. It’s a set piece. Those are individual moments we have to win.
The most frustrating thing was they weren’t goals where they broke us down. It was just little
lapses in concentration. Those are the most frustrating ones to give up.”

SubsAfter losing Schoenfeld to injury in the 36th minute, the Crew made no further substitutions
until the 85th minute when Ryan Finley replaced Bernardo Anor. Four minutes later, Ethan Finlay
replaced Dominic Oduro.

Warzycha was asked about waiting so long to make changes. New England, after playing Wednesday
at Colorado, made all three substitutions between the 58th and 82nd minutes.

Here’s what Warzycha said: “I think you have Dominic Oduro who scored eight goals and is the
best scorer for us. It’s tough to take him off the field. Probably if I took him off the field you
would ask me why I took him off the field. Ryan Finley was scoring the goals in reserve (games),
but it’s tough to take off the guy who is scoring goals for you. The same for Bernardo Anor, who
scored last game. It’s tough to take him off the field.

“You take them off the field when you are tired and hope to generate more offense with some
fresh legs. That’s why we waited until the end.”